Read the information here about the three kingdoms in ancient Egypt. The problem with these three paragraphs is that each paragraph does not have specific details or evidence. Your task is to find specific details and evidence from our textbook for the information presented in each paragraph about each kingdom. Then re-write the paragraph adding the new specific details and evidence you found. Write the new paragraph on your wiki page.
Part 1 The Old Kingdom (2700 BCE - 2200 BCE)
Specific details and evidence about this kingdom can be found on pages 98-100 in our textbook.
Your specific details and evidence should give more information about...
Pyramids (definition, examples, construction details)
Workers
Importance of the pyramids
In the Old Kingdom, Pharaohs were considered gods on Earth. They depended on him for his strength and wisdom. They blamed him if crops failed. Even so, they wanted to please him (for he controlled everyone's afterlife) with spectacular burial chambers for his journey into the afterlife. So they built pyramids. This is why this period of time is called the Pyramid Age. It is the only during this time that pyramids were built. The pyramid is a huge stone tomb with four triangular sides that meet in a point at the top. The burial chamber in the pyramid shows the pharaoh's importance. Its size and shape is also symbolic. The pyramid is pointing to the sky which symbolizes his after-life journey. An example of a pyramid would be the Khufu's. This pyramid was spread over 13 acres of land and rose to 481 feet. Such a pyramid would be built with as many as 100,000 workers who would drag limestone on wooden sleds and then on ramps of rubble. This limestone blocks were cut with copper and stone tools and brought by boat. But they could have floated the stones on the Nile while it was flooded. This smooth side pyramid first built in 2700 BCE. The steps were filled and covered in limestone. Since there were many workers, the government kept records and paid peasants for their work. But payments were not made in money but in grains. After a while, Pharaohs realized that the pyramids were easy to spot, therefore easier to rob than hidden tombs. Things were to change in the Middle Kingdom.
I give myself a 3.
Part 2 The Middle Kingdom (2100 BCE - 1800 BCE)
Specific details and evidence about this kingdom can be found on pages 101-102 in our textbook.
Your specific details and evidence should give more information about...
the difference with the Old Kingdom
what life was like during this time
wars or battles and who was involved
The Middle Kingdom was the Golden Age for Egypt. Trade, Arts and Literature flourished. It built strong armies to protect them from enemies. Pharaohs in this time were expected to be good kings and wise rulers. But in this age, pharaohs were buried in hidden tombs, not pyramids. At the end of the Old Kingdom, building and maintaining a pyramid cost a lot of money. Pharaohs couldn't collect enough taxes to cover their spendings. Their wealth and power were also declining. Many ambitious noble used their position to take power from the pharaoh. Soon, these nobleman had enough power to challenge the pharaoh himself. By 2200 BCE, the Old Kingdom had completely fallen. Local nobleman ruled Egypt for the next 160 years. There was no single leader in Egypt. Then in 2025 BCE, a powerful pharaoh defeated his rivals and united Egypt. But towards the end of the Middle Kingdom, Egypt was once again in disorder. Around 1750 BCE, a group called the Hyksos from Southwest Asia, invaded Lower Egypt. They used horses, chariots and advanced weapons to take over. For 200 years, this group reigned as pharaohs. Then, in the mid-1500 BCE, Ahmose of Thebes declared himself king and drove the Hyksos out of Egypt. He then ruled all of Egypt.
I give myself a 2 and 1/2.
Part 3 The New Kingdom (1500 BCE - 1000 BCE)
Specific details and evidence about this kingdom can be found on pages 101-102 in our textbook.
Your specific details and evidence should give more information about...
the causes of the growth of trade
what life was like in an empire
wars or battles (invasions) and who was involved
Original:
The New Kingdom (1500 BCE - 1000 BCE): The New Kingdom was Egypt's expansion period. Egypt expanded her borders through military conquest and became a world power. During the time period of the New Kingdom, pharaohs were all powerful, and pharaohs were all buried in the same geographic area called the Valley of the Kings.
My Paragraph:
The New Kingdom was Egypt's expansion period. She expanded her borders through military conquest and in this way became a world power. Conquest and trade brought wealth to the pharaoh. After battling with the Hyksos, the Egyptian government feared future invasions and decided to control all the possible invasion routes. In this process, it became an empire. Their first target was the homeland of the Hyksos. Their second target was Syria. Soon the Egyptian army had taken over the entire eastern shore of the Mediterranean and the kingdom of Kush. By 1400 BCE, Egypt was a leading regional military power. The areas they conquered would sent gifts to them. Kush annually would send gold, leopard skins and precious stones. Assyrian, Babylonian and Hittite kings would try to keep good relations by sending expensive gifts. Conquest also brought Egyptian traders a chance to contact with distant lands. Trade expanded and trade routes developed. Many land that Egypt took over had valuable resources that people could trade. For example, the Sinai Peninsula had large supplies of turquoise and copper. But the New Kingdom also was a time when pharaohs were all powerful and pharaohs were all buried in a part of Egypt called the Valley of the Kings. One famous pharaoh would be Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the wife of Thutmose II. Thutmose II died young and his son, Thutmose III became pharaoh. Since Thutmose III was still too young, Hatshepsut acted as pharaoh instead. She dressed in men's clothes and wore a beard. Hatshepsut was also a pharaoh who encouraged trade. She sent traders to Punt, the Asia Minor, and Greece. The money from the trade was used to support art and architecture. Many impressive monuments and temples were built while she was pharaoh. One impressive temple was near Thebes and dedicated to her. Even though Egypt had an impressive army, there were still challenges. In 1200 BCE, Ramses II ,otherwise known as Ramses the Great, fought the Hittities in many fierce battles but neither could defeat the other. Another group known as the Tehenu invaded the Nile Delta. Ramses II fought back and later built forts on the western frontier. This proved to be a good decision for a century later, the Tehenu invaded again, but were defeated. Soon after Ramses II death, a group called the Sea Peoples, sailed into Southwest Asia, defeated the Hittities and crushed many cities. Only after 50 years, could the Egyptians turn back. It survived, but the empire was gone. Egypt once again fell into disorder. It would never again regain its power.
Assignment 3-8
Now that we are finished with the ancient Egypt unit, I would like you to reflect on what you have learned about ancient Egypt. Please complete these sentences clearly and with specific details. Write the answers on your wiki page. If you need reminders of what we did, just scroll through the assignments on this page or look through your notes.
1. The single most important thing I learned was... about the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms because it taught me that certain things or events only happened during one of these Kingdoms such as when pyramids were built.
2. Something that confused me or that I didn't understand was... the afterlife because I didn't learn a lot of information on it.
3. What surprised me the most was... that Hatshepsut became Pharaoh by taking the power from her nephew and declaring herself pharaoh. Before, I thought that after her husband died, she automatically became pharaoh.
4. I would like to know more about is... what happens when a pharaoh has no successor. It has happened a few times in history, normally there are different results. I would like to know what should happen.
5. The part that I think I will always remember was... about Akhenaten and Tutankhamen because I did some research on Tutankhamen for my project. I will remember Akhenaten because I read a fictional book with historical aspects during his rule and I got more information from the river boat tour and project research.
Assignment 4-0
A. What have you learned about daily life in Mohenjo-Daro from this activity?
I have learned that the people of Mohenjo-Daro were very advanced in indoor plumbing. I learned that they were very organized because all merchants had a standard set of weights. They had houses that had the same design though some houses had more rooms than other. They had different games and toys for children. The people enjoyed jewelry made with different stones and beads.
B. Which aspects of daily life do you see represented in the picture that the artist drew?
Farmers are working and carrying sacks of goods. A man is driving a cart, probably going to trade or collect grain and goods. A lady is carrying a pot above her head, maybe filled with water from a well, and is walking with her child.
C. In what ways do you think Mohenjo-Daro was like a modern city?
Mohenjo-Daro had a sewage system that allows homes to have indoor bathrooms just like our homes now. The homes were built on a grid system like many modern apartments. D. Why do you think it is difficult for us to know exactly what life was like in ancient civilizations like those in the Indus-Sarasvati region?
I think it is difficult for people know what life was like because archaeologists still cannot decipher the language of the people, many of these foundations are very old so there isn' t as much information. Also the area is very large and it requires many years of excavation. E. What do you think might have contributed to the decline of Mohenjo-Daro?
I think that the city may have been attacked and conquered by bigger cities and armies. Also, the people could have left the city and migrated to a different area due to a natural disaster. Another idea is that they over-used their resources.
Assignment 4-1 Source: IndiaSubcontinentMapTrans.jpg
Directions: Look at the map above, read the text below, and answer the following questions on your wiki page:
In the 1990's, satellite pictures revealed an ancient, dried riverbed located in India's present-day Thar Desert. Geologists have identified this riverbed as the route of the ancient Sarasvati River. The Sarasvati lay east of the Indus River and generally followed the same course, originating in the Himalaya mountains and emptying into the Arabian Sea. Geologists believe that the Sarasvati River dried up around 1900 B.C.E. Over time, the once fertile area around the Sarasvati River dried up around 1900 B.C.E. Over time, the once fertile area around the Sarasvati evolved into the dry, hot desert that exists today.
Early Indian agricultural settlements arose in the Indus-Sarasvati river region at least as far back as 6500 B.C.E. Like many other ancient peoples, the early Indians settled by rivers. They settled primarily on the banks of the Sarasvati River as well as along the banks of the Indus River. These rivers provided the ancient Indians with plenty of water, and the land near the rivers was fertile and excellent for growing crops. The rivers also provided the Indians with a convenient way to travel and trade among themselves and with other civilizations. Archeologists have found artifacts from the Indus-Sarasvati civilization - such as carved seals - in Mesopotamia's Sumer. These discoveries have led scholars to believe that the early Indians traded with Mesopotamia, possibly by traveling in ships down the Indus and Sarasvati rivers to the Arabian Sea and then west to Sumer and other locations.
After the Sarasvati River dried up around 1900 B.C.E., the Indus-Sarasvati Indians moved to more habitable areas, such as the fertile banks of the Ganga river further east. Archeological evidence shows, however, that people settled by the Ganga River as far back as 5000 B.C.E.
Questions:
1. In what ways is your map similar to the one that you see in the map above?
The map is similar to my map because there are many features on the map that are included in ours too, like the Deccan Plateau. And the shapes that represent the plateau and the Thar Desert are the same as well.
2. What physiographic features can you identify on this map that are not on your map?
The Sarasvati River and the settlement dots are the physiographic features on the map that aren't on mine.
3. Why do you think settlements developed along the Indus and Sarasvati rivers? Explain with clear and complete details.
I think settlements developed along the two rivers because the land was very fertile and was good for growing crops. The river gave the people a supply of water and a travel path. It would have been ideal places for people to farm and trade.
4. Accurately draw and label the ancient Sarasvati River on your map.
5. Why did ancient Indian people eventually migrate to the Ganga River?
The Indian people migrated to the Ganga River because it was a more habitable and fertile area than the dried up Sarasvati River. Assignment 4-2 Website: Indus Valley
Use the website above to answer these questions. Write your answers in complete sentences with clear details on your wiki page.
1. What was discovered during the excavations of Mohenjo-Daro?
A large mound was found. There were important buildings discovered on it. Archaeologists think it may have been a citadel. In the city itself, a part called Lower Town, which includes Mohenjo-Daro's longest street, called First Street. 2. How is Mohenjo-Daro similar to our cities today?
Mohenjo-Daro is similar to our cities today because there are wells connected to sewage systems. This allows for houses to have drains and bathrooms. The streets also had covered drains like today. The bricks in Mohenjo-Daro were made in the same way they are made today. They were used to build houses, wells, drains, and strong foundations. 3. What can we learn from archaeological discoveries (such as artifacts and city construction) in Mohenjo-Daro?
We learned that women wore jewelery which were probably made by skilled craftsmen. The seals show that the Indus people knew elephants, crocodiles, and tigers because they were on the seals. Weights were used in trade, the small ones were probably used to measure beads and gold, while the big ones were used to measure things like sacks of grain. 4. Give clear and specific information about how people lived in Mohenjo-Daro. In your answer, you have to talk about the artifacts that you discovered and put into the museum.
The figurine gives archaeologists the idea that women may have dressed up for special occasions. The model cart shows that children played with models. It shows that farmers would use bullocks to pull wooden carts because bullocks went easily in fields. People would trade, used stone weights to measure goods. 5. What do we know about the Priest-King?
The Priest-King may have been an important man of priest. He may also have been a ruler. But it is not certain because there is barely enough information to be sure. 6. What was the Great Bath and how was it used?
The Great Bath is a large building located at the top of the citadel. It is made of special tight fitting bricks set in gypsum mortar. This made it watertight. It may have been used for hygienic an religious purposes. People may gone to renew and purify themselves, and to attend religious ceremonies in the bath. A well east of the bath may have been used to fill the bath. People could have collected rainwater in the well.
Assignment 4-3
Source:
external image pdf.png
Archeologists Ideas Mohenjo-Daro.pdf
Think about the activity we did in class as archeologists in Mohenjo-Daro. Using the source above, your ideas, and the notes you took about archeologists ideas, answer the following questions clearly and completely on your wiki page. Each answer should be at least two sentences long with specific information.
1. What have you learned about daily life in Mohenjo-Daro from this activity?
I learned that people had many games for entertainment and that grain was their currency. Many people had jobs that the society depended on, such as maintaining the sewage system.
2. Which characteristics of civilization do you see represented in the artifacts you looked at? Explain.
I see a developed culture because of the variety of games. I see religion because the Great Bath might have been used for religious purposes. I see writing because of the pictographs on the seals.
3. In what ways do you think Mohenjo-Daro was like a modern city?
It's sewage system made it seem like a modern city. The houses all had indoor bathrooms which is very advanced for an ancient city.
4. Why do you think it is difficult for us to know exactly what life was like in ancient civilizations like those in the Indus-Sarasvati region?
I think it is difficult for us to know exactly what life was like because we haven't yet deciphered the written language of the people who had first settled there.
5. What do you think might have contributed to the decline of Mohenjo-Daro?
I think the city might have been conquered, or the people of Mohenjo-Daro overused their resources and abandoned the city for a neighboring settlement.
Assignment 4-4
Answer the following questions clearly and with details on your wiki page. 1. What varna were you in during the caste system simulation?
I was part of the highest class, the Brahmen, the priest class.
2. What was your favorite part about the caste system simulation? Why?
My favorite part was when the lawmakers had to give the Brahmen presents. It was funny because the presents were a poster and a slave, which was Cole. Cole had not been expecting it and was very surprised.
3. What part of the simulation made you angry, upset, or frustrated? Why?
The part where the laborers had to work for the higher classes. It wasn't fair for them even though everyone else enjoyed it.
4. Do you think this system is fair? Why or why not?
It isn't fair because the laborers have absolutely no power and have to treat everyone who is of higher class with great respect.
5. Do you think a society should organize people into social classes? Why or Why not?
I think society shouldn't organize people into social classes because it isn't good for the people in the lowest classes. People in the higher classes will probably abuse their power because they think they are superior to the lower class people.
Use the website above and what you have learned in class so far to answer these questions about the early Indus River Governments.
1. Why would having a central government help in planning and organizing a city?
A central government would help in planning and organizing a city because then everyone would agree with what the head of the government proposed. If the ruler proposed to build the city in grid patterns, the rest would agree since there was supposed to be a central ruler who was treated like a king.
2. Who were Rajahs?
The Rajahs were rulers who each ruled a city. The rajahs might have combined their own ruling systems in to one combined central government.
3. What is a Guru?
A guru was a teacher who lived with his student until the student became twenty. The student would have to services and chores for the guru while the student studied with him.
4. What subjects were taught in school?
In school, boys were taught subjects related to government. These subjects mainly had to do with religion since religion was a big part of government.
5. Who was in charge of the government?
The Indus priests were partly in charge of the government. This was mainly because they were the highest varna or social class.
6. Why did people look up to the priests?
People looked up to the priests because they made offerings to the gods. They also looked up to the priests because they were the highest varna.
After completing yourUnderstanding How Ashoka's Edicts Helped Unify India sheet answer the following comprehension questions:
1. What are the main ideas expressed in Ashoka's edicts?
The main ideas expressed in Ashoka's edicts are that the things and rules he puts in place are fair and are for the benefit of the people. He also expresses the values of Buddhism are the correct and good way to live.
2. What are some of the ways in which Ashoka's leadership promoted unity in India?
Ashoka's leadership promoted unity in India because he set out a list of edicts that his entire kingdom could relate to and understand. This gives communities a similarity because their security and way of justice are the same or similar.
3. In what ways did Ashoka's Buddhist beliefs contribute to the unification of India?
Ashoka's leadership promoted unity in India because he ruled it under the influence of Buddhism which gives people a kind of relation or connection to each other. This allows people to connect better with each other and allows them to get along better. This is the same with communities or villages.
4. In addition to the edicts, what else might have contributed to the unification of India during this time period?
Ashoka's empire is ruled by the a central government which is controlled by Ashoka. This would have contributed to the unification of India during this time period because the villages across the empire would have known who their one emperor is. This would have made them united because they are all ruled by one ruler, not many different nobles.
5. Explain how one of the edicts you examined could be catagorized another way (i.e. instead of Buddhist Values it could also concern Justice)
I categorized the edict at station C (My officers have been appointed for the welfare and happiness of the ... people. I have given them...authority in judgment and punishment. But it is desirable that there should uniformity in judicial procedure and punishment) into security because it talks about the safety of the people. It can also talk about justice because it says that the officers are given authority in punishment and judgment but that the way it should be held out it the same. This means that it should be fair, as in good justice, because the procedures will be in the same way, not harsher or easier.
Assignment 3-5
Read the information here about the three kingdoms in ancient Egypt. The problem with these three paragraphs is that each paragraph does not have specific details or evidence. Your task is to find specific details and evidence from our textbook for the information presented in each paragraph about each kingdom. Then re-write the paragraph adding the new specific details and evidence you found. Write the new paragraph on your wiki page.Part 1
The Old Kingdom (2700 BCE - 2200 BCE)
Specific details and evidence about this kingdom can be found on pages 98-100 in our textbook.
Your specific details and evidence should give more information about...
In the Old Kingdom, Pharaohs were considered gods on Earth. They depended on him for his strength and wisdom. They blamed him if crops failed. Even so, they wanted to please him (for he controlled everyone's afterlife) with spectacular burial chambers for his journey into the afterlife. So they built pyramids. This is why this period of time is called the Pyramid Age. It is the only during this time that pyramids were built. The pyramid is a huge stone tomb with four triangular sides that meet in a point at the top. The burial chamber in the pyramid shows the pharaoh's importance. Its size and shape is also symbolic. The pyramid is pointing to the sky which symbolizes his after-life journey. An example of a pyramid would be the Khufu's. This pyramid was spread over 13 acres of land and rose to 481 feet. Such a pyramid would be built with as many as 100,000 workers who would drag limestone on wooden sleds and then on ramps of rubble. This limestone blocks were cut with copper and stone tools and brought by boat. But they could have floated the stones on the Nile while it was flooded. This smooth side pyramid first built in 2700 BCE. The steps were filled and covered in limestone. Since there were many workers, the government kept records and paid peasants for their work. But payments were not made in money but in grains. After a while, Pharaohs realized that the pyramids were easy to spot, therefore easier to rob than hidden tombs. Things were to change in the Middle Kingdom.
I give myself a 3.
Part 2
The Middle Kingdom (2100 BCE - 1800 BCE)
Specific details and evidence about this kingdom can be found on pages 101-102 in our textbook.
Your specific details and evidence should give more information about...
The Middle Kingdom was the Golden Age for Egypt. Trade, Arts and Literature flourished. It built strong armies to protect them from enemies. Pharaohs in this time were expected to be good kings and wise rulers. But in this age, pharaohs were buried in hidden tombs, not pyramids. At the end of the Old Kingdom, building and maintaining a pyramid cost a lot of money. Pharaohs couldn't collect enough taxes to cover their spendings. Their wealth and power were also declining. Many ambitious noble used their position to take power from the pharaoh. Soon, these nobleman had enough power to challenge the pharaoh himself. By 2200 BCE, the Old Kingdom had completely fallen. Local nobleman ruled Egypt for the next 160 years. There was no single leader in Egypt. Then in 2025 BCE, a powerful pharaoh defeated his rivals and united Egypt. But towards the end of the Middle Kingdom, Egypt was once again in disorder. Around 1750 BCE, a group called the Hyksos from Southwest Asia, invaded Lower Egypt. They used horses, chariots and advanced weapons to take over. For 200 years, this group reigned as pharaohs. Then, in the mid-1500 BCE, Ahmose of Thebes declared himself king and drove the Hyksos out of Egypt. He then ruled all of Egypt.
I give myself a 2 and 1/2.
Part 3
The New Kingdom (1500 BCE - 1000 BCE)
Specific details and evidence about this kingdom can be found on pages 101-102 in our textbook.
Your specific details and evidence should give more information about...
Original:
The New Kingdom (1500 BCE - 1000 BCE): The New Kingdom was Egypt's expansion period. Egypt expanded her borders through military conquest and became a world power. During the time period of the New Kingdom, pharaohs were all powerful, and pharaohs were all buried in the same geographic area called the Valley of the Kings.
My Paragraph:
The New Kingdom was Egypt's expansion period. She expanded her borders through military conquest and in this way became a world power. Conquest and trade brought wealth to the pharaoh. After battling with the Hyksos, the Egyptian government feared future invasions and decided to control all the possible invasion routes. In this process, it became an empire. Their first target was the homeland of the Hyksos. Their second target was Syria. Soon the Egyptian army had taken over the entire eastern shore of the Mediterranean and the kingdom of Kush. By 1400 BCE, Egypt was a leading regional military power. The areas they conquered would sent gifts to them. Kush annually would send gold, leopard skins and precious stones. Assyrian, Babylonian and Hittite kings would try to keep good relations by sending expensive gifts. Conquest also brought Egyptian traders a chance to contact with distant lands. Trade expanded and trade routes developed. Many land that Egypt took over had valuable resources that people could trade. For example, the Sinai Peninsula had large supplies of turquoise and copper. But the New Kingdom also was a time when pharaohs were all powerful and pharaohs were all buried in a part of Egypt called the Valley of the Kings. One famous pharaoh would be Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut was the wife of Thutmose II. Thutmose II died young and his son, Thutmose III became pharaoh. Since Thutmose III was still too young, Hatshepsut acted as pharaoh instead. She dressed in men's clothes and wore a beard. Hatshepsut was also a pharaoh who encouraged trade. She sent traders to Punt, the Asia Minor, and Greece. The money from the trade was used to support art and architecture. Many impressive monuments and temples were built while she was pharaoh. One impressive temple was near Thebes and dedicated to her. Even though Egypt had an impressive army, there were still challenges. In 1200 BCE, Ramses II ,otherwise known as Ramses the Great, fought the Hittities in many fierce battles but neither could defeat the other. Another group known as the Tehenu invaded the Nile Delta. Ramses II fought back and later built forts on the western frontier. This proved to be a good decision for a century later, the Tehenu invaded again, but were defeated. Soon after Ramses II death, a group called the Sea Peoples, sailed into Southwest Asia, defeated the Hittities and crushed many cities. Only after 50 years, could the Egyptians turn back. It survived, but the empire was gone. Egypt once again fell into disorder. It would never again regain its power.
Assignment 3-8
Now that we are finished with the ancient Egypt unit, I would like you to reflect on what you have learned about ancient Egypt. Please complete these sentences clearly and with specific details. Write the answers on your wiki page. If you need reminders of what we did, just scroll through the assignments on this page or look through your notes.1. The single most important thing I learned was... about the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms because it taught me that certain things or events only happened during one of these Kingdoms such as when pyramids were built.
2. Something that confused me or that I didn't understand was... the afterlife because I didn't learn a lot of information on it.
3. What surprised me the most was... that Hatshepsut became Pharaoh by taking the power from her nephew and declaring herself pharaoh. Before, I thought that after her husband died, she automatically became pharaoh.
4. I would like to know more about is... what happens when a pharaoh has no successor. It has happened a few times in history, normally there are different results. I would like to know what should happen.
5. The part that I think I will always remember was... about Akhenaten and Tutankhamen because I did some research on Tutankhamen for my project. I will remember Akhenaten because I read a fictional book with historical aspects during his rule and I got more information from the river boat tour and project research.
Assignment 4-0
A. What have you learned about daily life in Mohenjo-Daro from this activity?
I have learned that the people of Mohenjo-Daro were very advanced in indoor plumbing. I learned that they were very organized because all merchants had a standard set of weights. They had houses that had the same design though some houses had more rooms than other. They had different games and toys for children. The people enjoyed jewelry made with different stones and beads.
B. Which aspects of daily life do you see represented in the picture that the artist drew?
Farmers are working and carrying sacks of goods. A man is driving a cart, probably going to trade or collect grain and goods. A lady is carrying a pot above her head, maybe filled with water from a well, and is walking with her child.
C. In what ways do you think Mohenjo-Daro was like a modern city?Mohenjo-Daro had a sewage system that allows homes to have indoor bathrooms just like our homes now. The homes were built on a grid system like many modern apartments.
D. Why do you think it is difficult for us to know exactly what life was like in ancient civilizations like those in the Indus-Sarasvati region?
I think it is difficult for people know what life was like because archaeologists still cannot decipher the language of the people, many of these foundations are very old so there isn' t as much information. Also the area is very large and it requires many years of excavation.
E. What do you think might have contributed to the decline of Mohenjo-Daro?
I think that the city may have been attacked and conquered by bigger cities and armies. Also, the people could have left the city and migrated to a different area due to a natural disaster. Another idea is that they over-used their resources.
Assignment 4-1
Source: IndiaSubcontinentMapTrans.jpg
Directions: Look at the map above, read the text below, and answer the following questions on your wiki page:
In the 1990's, satellite pictures revealed an ancient, dried riverbed located in India's present-day Thar Desert. Geologists have identified this riverbed as the route of the ancient Sarasvati River. The Sarasvati lay east of the Indus River and generally followed the same course, originating in the Himalaya mountains and emptying into the Arabian Sea. Geologists believe that the Sarasvati River dried up around 1900 B.C.E. Over time, the once fertile area around the Sarasvati River dried up around 1900 B.C.E. Over time, the once fertile area around the Sarasvati evolved into the dry, hot desert that exists today.
Early Indian agricultural settlements arose in the Indus-Sarasvati river region at least as far back as 6500 B.C.E. Like many other ancient peoples, the early Indians settled by rivers. They settled primarily on the banks of the Sarasvati River as well as along the banks of the Indus River. These rivers provided the ancient Indians with plenty of water, and the land near the rivers was fertile and excellent for growing crops. The rivers also provided the Indians with a convenient way to travel and trade among themselves and with other civilizations. Archeologists have found artifacts from the Indus-Sarasvati civilization - such as carved seals - in Mesopotamia's Sumer. These discoveries have led scholars to believe that the early Indians traded with Mesopotamia, possibly by traveling in ships down the Indus and Sarasvati rivers to the Arabian Sea and then west to Sumer and other locations.
After the Sarasvati River dried up around 1900 B.C.E., the Indus-Sarasvati Indians moved to more habitable areas, such as the fertile banks of the Ganga river further east. Archeological evidence shows, however, that people settled by the Ganga River as far back as 5000 B.C.E.
Questions:
1. In what ways is your map similar to the one that you see in the map above?
The map is similar to my map because there are many features on the map that are included in ours too, like the Deccan Plateau. And the shapes that represent the plateau and the Thar Desert are the same as well.
2. What physiographic features can you identify on this map that are not on your map?
The Sarasvati River and the settlement dots are the physiographic features on the map that aren't on mine.
3. Why do you think settlements developed along the Indus and Sarasvati rivers? Explain with clear and complete details.
I think settlements developed along the two rivers because the land was very fertile and was good for growing crops. The river gave the people a supply of water and a travel path. It would have been ideal places for people to farm and trade.
4. Accurately draw and label the ancient Sarasvati River on your map.
5. Why did ancient Indian people eventually migrate to the Ganga River?
The Indian people migrated to the Ganga River because it was a more habitable and fertile area than the dried up Sarasvati River.
Assignment 4-2
Website: Indus Valley
Use the website above to answer these questions. Write your answers in complete sentences with clear details on your wiki page.
1. What was discovered during the excavations of Mohenjo-Daro?
A large mound was found. There were important buildings discovered on it. Archaeologists think it may have been a citadel. In the city itself, a part called Lower Town, which includes Mohenjo-Daro's longest street, called First Street.
2. How is Mohenjo-Daro similar to our cities today?
Mohenjo-Daro is similar to our cities today because there are wells connected to sewage systems. This allows for houses to have drains and bathrooms. The streets also had covered drains like today. The bricks in Mohenjo-Daro were made in the same way they are made today. They were used to build houses, wells, drains, and strong foundations.
3. What can we learn from archaeological discoveries (such as artifacts and city construction) in Mohenjo-Daro?
We learned that women wore jewelery which were probably made by skilled craftsmen. The seals show that the Indus people knew elephants, crocodiles, and tigers because they were on the seals. Weights were used in trade, the small ones were probably used to measure beads and gold, while the big ones were used to measure things like sacks of grain.
4. Give clear and specific information about how people lived in Mohenjo-Daro. In your answer, you have to talk about the artifacts that you discovered and put into the museum.
The figurine gives archaeologists the idea that women may have dressed up for special occasions. The model cart shows that children played with models. It shows that farmers would use bullocks to pull wooden carts because bullocks went easily in fields. People would trade, used stone weights to measure goods.
5. What do we know about the Priest-King?
The Priest-King may have been an important man of priest. He may also have been a ruler. But it is not certain because there is barely enough information to be sure.
6. What was the Great Bath and how was it used?
The Great Bath is a large building located at the top of the citadel. It is made of special tight fitting bricks set in gypsum mortar. This made it watertight. It may have been used for hygienic an religious purposes. People may gone to renew and purify themselves, and to attend religious ceremonies in the bath. A well east of the bath may have been used to fill the bath. People could have collected rainwater in the well.
Assignment 4-3
Source:Think about the activity we did in class as archeologists in Mohenjo-Daro. Using the source above, your ideas, and the notes you took about archeologists ideas, answer the following questions clearly and completely on your wiki page. Each answer should be at least two sentences long with specific information.
1. What have you learned about daily life in Mohenjo-Daro from this activity?
I learned that people had many games for entertainment and that grain was their currency. Many people had jobs that the society depended on, such as maintaining the sewage system.
2. Which characteristics of civilization do you see represented in the artifacts you looked at? Explain.
I see a developed culture because of the variety of games. I see religion because the Great Bath might have been used for religious purposes. I see writing because of the pictographs on the seals.
3. In what ways do you think Mohenjo-Daro was like a modern city?
It's sewage system made it seem like a modern city. The houses all had indoor bathrooms which is very advanced for an ancient city.
4. Why do you think it is difficult for us to know exactly what life was like in ancient civilizations like those in the Indus-Sarasvati region?
I think it is difficult for us to know exactly what life was like because we haven't yet deciphered the written language of the people who had first settled there.
5. What do you think might have contributed to the decline of Mohenjo-Daro?
I think the city might have been conquered, or the people of Mohenjo-Daro overused their resources and abandoned the city for a neighboring settlement.
Assignment 4-4
Answer the following questions clearly and with details on your wiki page.
1. What varna were you in during the caste system simulation?
I was part of the highest class, the Brahmen, the priest class.
2. What was your favorite part about the caste system simulation? Why?
My favorite part was when the lawmakers had to give the Brahmen presents. It was funny because the presents were a poster and a slave, which was Cole. Cole had not been expecting it and was very surprised.
3. What part of the simulation made you angry, upset, or frustrated? Why?
The part where the laborers had to work for the higher classes. It wasn't fair for them even though everyone else enjoyed it.
4. Do you think this system is fair? Why or why not?
It isn't fair because the laborers have absolutely no power and have to treat everyone who is of higher class with great respect.
5. Do you think a society should organize people into social classes? Why or Why not?
I think society shouldn't organize people into social classes because it isn't good for the people in the lowest classes. People in the higher classes will probably abuse their power because they think they are superior to the lower class people.
Assignment 4-5
Website: India-Government
Use the website above and what you have learned in class so far to answer these questions about the early Indus River Governments.
1. Why would having a central government help in planning and organizing a city?
A central government would help in planning and organizing a city because then everyone would agree with what the head of the government proposed. If the ruler proposed to build the city in grid patterns, the rest would agree since there was supposed to be a central ruler who was treated like a king.
2. Who were Rajahs?
The Rajahs were rulers who each ruled a city. The rajahs might have combined their own ruling systems in to one combined central government.
3. What is a Guru?
A guru was a teacher who lived with his student until the student became twenty. The student would have to services and chores for the guru while the student studied with him.
4. What subjects were taught in school?
In school, boys were taught subjects related to government. These subjects mainly had to do with religion since religion was a big part of government.
5. Who was in charge of the government?
The Indus priests were partly in charge of the government. This was mainly because they were the highest varna or social class.
6. Why did people look up to the priests?
People looked up to the priests because they made offerings to the gods. They also looked up to the priests because they were the highest varna.
Assignment 4-5
Creating an Illustrated Ramayana Poem
After completing your Understanding How Ashoka's Edicts Helped Unify India sheet answer the following comprehension questions:
1. What are the main ideas expressed in Ashoka's edicts?
The main ideas expressed in Ashoka's edicts are that the things and rules he puts in place are fair and are for the benefit of the people. He also expresses the values of Buddhism are the correct and good way to live.2. What are some of the ways in which Ashoka's leadership promoted unity in India?
Ashoka's leadership promoted unity in India because he set out a list of edicts that his entire kingdom could relate to and understand. This gives communities a similarity because their security and way of justice are the same or similar.3. In what ways did Ashoka's Buddhist beliefs contribute to the unification of India?
Ashoka's leadership promoted unity in India because he ruled it under the influence of Buddhism which gives people a kind of relation or connection to each other. This allows people to connect better with each other and allows them to get along better. This is the same with communities or villages.4. In addition to the edicts, what else might have contributed to the unification of India during this time period?
Ashoka's empire is ruled by the a central government which is controlled by Ashoka. This would have contributed to the unification of India during this time period because the villages across the empire would have known who their one emperor is. This would have made them united because they are all ruled by one ruler, not many different nobles.5. Explain how one of the edicts you examined could be catagorized another way (i.e. instead of Buddhist Values it could also concern Justice)
I categorized the edict at station C (My officers have been appointed for the welfare and happiness of the ... people. I have given them...authority in judgment and punishment. But it is desirable that there should uniformity in judicial procedure and punishment) into security because it talks about the safety of the people. It can also talk about justice because it says that the officers are given authority in punishment and judgment but that the way it should be held out it the same. This means that it should be fair, as in good justice, because the procedures will be in the same way, not harsher or easier.